While all the talk has been the Gold Coast Dolphins’ huge first innings of 3/630d in the Queensland Premier Cricket grand final, scratch the surface and another important story quickly emerges.
Zac McDermott, son of former Australian Test fast bowler Craig McDermott, has been on a hell of a roll.
The strongly built quick has claimed 40 first grade scalps at 15 this year including consecutive 7 wicket hauls leading into the season decider.
Although his consistent form has been a feature all season, his late wicket-taking frenzy has been a perfect finals launchpad for a Gold Coast side that hasn’t tasted premiership glory in since 2008/2009.
But the young pacer says he’s just happy to be back after his progression from talented schoolboy to first grade regular was interrupted by back stress fractures last season,.
“I’m just stoked to be able to contribute and bowl good volumes after being out for so long,” he says.
It’s not just his bowling that has been doing the talking, either. His 165 lower order runs at 27.5 have been more than handy.
Not that his batting is likely to be called on anytime soon with grand final opponent Northern Suburbs already 592 runs behind and three early wickets down.
But the ledger didn’t always look so rosy for the Dolphins. .
After being sent in by Norths, Gold Coast lost two wickets for just one run.
Despite the early chaos, McDermott wasn’t in any hurry to get the pads on.
“There might have been a few upper order guys getting a bit twitchy, but our batting has been extraordinary all year, so I wasn’t too worried,” he says.
“Allan Border Field always offers the bowlers something early on, but we knew if we withstood the early barrage, we’d be okay.”
The proof was in the pudding. The next wicket fell after tea on day two.
Hugo Burdon scored a remarkable 340. Stephen Muller ended up unbeaten on 272.
“They just kept going,” McDermott says. “I’ve never seen anything even close to like it and I probably never will again.”
“There was the occasional appeal from the Norths boys, but nothing too convincing.
Realistically, only some incredibly stubborn Northern Suburbs batting or - with Norths finishing higher on the ladder, two days of rain - now stands in the way of Gold Coast victory.
But McDermott refuses to get ahead of himself.
“It’s never done until it’s done,” McDermott says. “We still need to take 7 wickets. A draw won’t do us any good.”
McDermott, a recent Bond University Bachelor of Project Management graduate, will hope he can pack premiership-winning form into a busy off-season, one that will see him travel to England. He’ll join forces with Kings Hill Cricket Club in Kent.
And when he returns home, it’s all about next steps at state level.
“I’d love to get more Queensland Second XI opportunities,” he says. “I’ll otherwise just keep doing everything I can to stake a claim for higher honours.”
“I’d like to think I’ve put my best foot forward.”